Adam Gilchrist says Australia can deliver psychological blow to India by dominating ODI series

It may be three years before the next World Cup but beating India in the ODI series which starts on Friday may never be more important for the Aussies.

Adam Gilchrist has called for stability in the Aussie ODI team.

Australia must use this one-day series as a chance to set the tone for the summer and set India up for a miserable Test series.

Every player will say it will be 0-0 on day one of the Adelaide Test, and that’s true but you can definitely inflict some psychological blows before the red ball is taken out of the kit bag.

I vividly remember having those sort of thoughts when I was playing – whether or not it was spoken out loud by people.

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Gilly has urged ODI stability under captain Aaron Finch. Picture: AFP

When I was just in the one-day team, but not in the Test team, I remember wanting to make sure we set a tour up for the Test team that was about to take over and the same thought process must be embraced by our current ODI team.

With a World Cup in the distance in 2023, some thought might be given to blooding new players who can be really hitting their straps in three years time – but I think more can be gained from turning this group into one that wins consistently and has a bit of continuity to it.

I’m absolutely aware there needs to be succession planning and grooming of players so that it can be a seamless transition as groups of players phase out and new eras come in.

But as a general statement the more you can keep a settled, successful team going in any of the formats now I think they feed off each other. And if you get success in the white-ball games in this series, by way of example, that’s only going to help leading into the first Test. I really believe that.

I would still think they’ll attempt to pick the best team each time. From personal experience you just want to win each game and particularly every series you’re involved in.

And it’s still a long way away, that World Cup. I don’t think you target too many series as development series – especially not one against India.

Although one bloke who will be central to Australia’s one-day plans not just this summer but for the next ten years is Marnus Labuschagne.

Marnus only made his one-day debut in January this year, but after 10 games has already shown himself to be a hugely valuable member of this team.

He has a very important set of skills and I think most successful one-day teams over the eras have always had a player of similar skill in that he’s very consistent and reliable.

He’s maybe not the most flamboyant but is someone the team can bat around the strokeplayers, allowing them to bat with a bit more flair either prior to him coming in or, if it hasn’t gone well, he can come in and stabilise and allow for more expansive play from the power-hitters later on.

Every team needs that banker – and in Marnus and Steve Smith, Australia has two reliable assets.

It’s clearly proven Marnus can go at a good clip when he needs to and he’s continuing to develop as a player and a cricketer before our eyes, so sudden has been his rise through the ranks.

He’s also prepared to try new things and that creativity is only going to help him in the short versions of the game.

One of the most exciting battles we’ll see in this series is that of the Indian master Virat Kohli and his Australian nemesis Adam Zampa.

Kohli will be giving it absolutely everything in this white-ball series, knowing he’s going home after the Adelaide Test, and Zampa has been a little bit of kryptonite in recent years.

I suppose if you’ve played long enough, and as much as Virat Kohli has, a few guys are going to get you a few times. But Zamps has definitely had good tussles with him in recent years.

He’s dismissed him five times in one-day cricket and twice in T20s, so that showdown is going be a particular highlight to watch out for.

They’ve just spent two months as teammates for Royal Challengers Bangalore, so I’m interested to see how that will change the dynamic in any way. Will Kohli just try and dominate him for start or will their previous clashes play on his mind at all?

Will Kohli attempt to dominate Zampa on the ODI series? Picture: AFP

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Either way, it’s been really good to watch Zamps’ development recently. He’s been terrific and is a very important member of that bowling line-up now.

He did a great job in England, and I think it boils down to him being confident in his selection.

It alleviates any sort of restraints that he’d had in his mind knowing that he’s getting regular games and is the absolute go-to spinner.